Once upon a time, I produced and hosted a travel show. In some ways, all the fun ways, it was short-lived. Unfortunately, in all the worst ways it was long-lived. I guess that's another reason why they call it reality TV.
Anyways, one day I'll upload it to YouTube, embed it here, and deleted this sentence. In the meantime, the show and episode descriptions are below.
With an imagination and sense of humor unlike any other travel show, TRIVIAL MUSEUMS takes viewers on a tour of some of the country’s smallest and craziest museums. With equal parts nostalgia and satire, each episode follows our host, Flip, as he delves into the origins of the these bizarre exhibits, and explores the neighboring towns, tourist traps, and roadside attractions in an effort to make sense of the past. TRIVIAL MUSEUMS introduces viewers to the stories and eccentric personalities that breathe life into these unique and quintessentially American landmarks, while providing a comical and original view on history that is compelling in and of itself.
Give a man a peanut, and he can have a snack; teach a man to farm peanuts, and he can be President. In this episode, Flip heads to the parts of Georgia put on the map by the Carter family, like the BILLY CARTER SERVICE STATION MUSEUM, where he shares memories and a thirty-year-old beer with Billy’s daughter. Then it’s a trip to the Carter family’s charitable affiliate, where he takes in both the grit and the glory of the HABITAT FOR HUMANITY GLOBAL DISCOVERY CENTER, and learns that his tour guide shares a bizarre similarity with Billy Carter.
In this episode, Flip heads to Florida’s citrusy heart, where he digs up some ancient history, and some literal dirt, on one of the state’s oldest industries at the PHOSPHATE MUSEUM. Afterwards, Flip races on up to have a chat with a man who is still firing on all cylinders, at the MUSEUM OF DRAG RACING, where he learns what it takes to become an all-time great drag racer from the sport’s most influential figure.
Blending the macabre with a wicked sense of humor, this episode finds Flip prowling the streets of Atlanta, where his life changes forever after being served a blue plate special at the WAFFLE HOUSE MUSEUM by one of the founder’s very own blood relatives. Afterwards, Flip’s holiday gets interrupted when he learns what it feels like to have a different sense of self control at the CENTER FOR PUPPETRY ARTS, when his puppet alter-ego takes over the interview.
Women cry for it -- Men die for it! In this episode, Flip travels to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and discovers an unlikely connection between drug-crazed abandon and one of America’s favorite dolls. At the CRAWFORD LONG MUSEUM, Flip is introduced to the man who turned ether from child’s play into medical history. Later, Flip attempts to decipher the taxonomy of the Cabbage Patch Kids at BABYLAND GENERAL HOSPITAL, and unexpectedly winds up becoming a father.
Flip heads eastbound and down to Florida’s Treasure Coast, where they honor all that it takes to administer justice, at the AMERICAN POLICE HALL OF FAME, where after a hands on experience, Flip accidentally ends up on the wrong side of the law. And then, with a short way to go and plenty of time to get there, Flip’s loaded up and trucking to the BURT REYNOLDS AND FRIENDS MUSEUM, where he learns the fundamentals of what it takes to become a legend on the stage as well as with the ladies.
It’s finally time for Flip to hit the campaign trail and canvass two of Florida’s last remaining original roadside attractions. His run for office kicks off at the LIBERTY BELL MEMORIAL MUSEUM, where he tries to drum up some support by uncovering the truth about his fellow candidates. Then, Flip’s whistle-stop tour takes him to the PRESIDENTS HALL OF FAME, where he receives a large dose of patriotism in the form of a miniature White House replica, and is treated to stump speeches, both in the flesh and in the wax. But will Flip’s bid to earn a second season be derailed by the merciless political attack ads?
Nolan “Flip” Flynn is a visual artist, writer, and student of marginal history. TRIVIAL MUSEUMS marks his debut as a host and writer for television, his unique voice earning him the distinction of “a less angry, more attractive Andy Rooney.”
